Blues forging links with the Reds

Cardiff Blues are forging links with global football giants Liverpool FC and hope to build a strong working relationship with the Premier League runners-up in the years to come.

Trystan Bevan, Head of Physical Performance at Blues, was recently invited to speak at Melwood, the training ground of the Reds, as part of a sports seminar for teams across the north east.

Bevan, who has worked at Blues since 2003, spoke on the topic of 'Recovery and Monitoring Strategies in Applied Environments' in the event organised by the Liverpool FC Fitness & Conditioning department.

Staff from hosts Liverpool and league champions Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton and newly promoted Leicester City were among the teams at the event.

And Bevan - who was joined on a two-day behind the scenes trip in the north east by Rhys Blumberg, Head of Sales and Marketing at Blues, hopes the event was just the start of a growing relationship between the two clubs.

He said: "I know Jordan Milsom (Strength and Rehabilitation Coach) well, he has been to the Arms Park before, and people like Dave Rydings (Strength and Rehabilitation Assistant), Andy O'Boyle (Head of Fitness/U21 Fitness Coach) and Ryland Morgans (Head of Fitness and Conditioning) so it was fantastic to be invited to give a talk to them all.

"It was opened up to teams across the north-west as a CPD event and I explained my role at the Blues and the needs of our game and how players are prepared.

"We looked at the potential crossover with football and also the heritage of Cardiff and what we represent. It is similar to Liverpool in that respect with the weight of history behind us, that legacy of what we represent and how we uphold the highest standards.

"It was a great opportunity and thankfully I know them all well so I wasn't too nervous. However, when you go into the media room at Liverpool, with all the European cups and Brendan Rodgers around the place, it does dawn on you exactly where you are.

"We hope the relationship will now continue to build and two of our interns have already been up to work with their Academy and Oliver Morgan, Assistant Academy Sport Scientist at Liverpool, has been down to see us at our training complex."

Bevan and Blumberg also visited the Liverpool Academy in Kirkby on the first day before a special trip to the Aon Training Complex - the £60 million headquarters of Manchester United - on the second day.

"I know Rhys (Blumberg) got the chance to speak to the commercial staff and share best practice and we hope we can all work closely together," added Bevan.

"The visit to Manchester United was useful because we are rebranding and enhancing our gym so we wanted to look at the cutting edge of technology and see what could be achieved."

To celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Guinness PRO12 Pack Bar, the world famous Irish brewer will be offering supporters free pints of the black stuff ahead of Saturday's clash with Ulster.

'TACKLE' - the first-ever joint community rugby initiative between the four professional teams in Wales has been launched (today Weds 19th October) bringing an inspiring new rugby education programme to young people in Communities First areas. Partners in the project were joined by Wales' star rugby internationals Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets) and Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), for the launch at Aberdare Community School.

The Welsh Rugby Union, together with Pro Rugby Wales, has secured significantly improved insurance cover for all registered players, coaches and referees at each of its member clubs and regions at reduced costs -working with Aon, one of the world's largest insurance brokers and risk advisors.

The Welsh Rugby Union, together with Pro Rugby Wales, has secured significantly improved insurance cover for all registered players, coaches and referees at each of its member clubs and regions at reduced costs -working with Aon, one of the world's largest insurance brokers and risk advisors.